The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) served ten closure orders and five prohibition orders on food businesses during May for breaches of food safety legislation.

The enforcement orders were issued by environmental health officers in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and by officers of the FSAI.

According to the FSAI, some of the reasons for the enforcement orders in May included an unregistered business operating in a shed building where the other half of the shed was a working car workshop.

In another case, an identification mark belonging to an approved establishment was unlawfully used on food products that had been produced in an unapproved domestic kitchen.

Some of the other reasons for orders being served were inadequate pest control measures; presence of rodent droppings and dead insects in food handling and storage areas and food being stored at incorrect temperatures in a container.

There were incidents of inadequate hygiene, cleaning, and sanitation practices, including lack of hot water, hand soap, and lack of handwashing during food preparation; black grime, food debris and grease on floors and a lack of labelling, traceability, and supplier documentation for food products.

Greg Dempsey, FSAI chief executive, warned that every food business must be registered with a competent authority and that all have a legal obligation to ensure the food they sell is safe to eat.

"Additionally, while the vast majority of food businesses comply with their legal requirement to register their business prior to operating, unfortunately, some choose to operate without the knowledge or supervision of the competent authorities, potentially exposing consumers to unsafe or fraudulent food.

"These businesses will be pursued using the legal powers available to us," he said.

Dempsey added that the FSAI website has "a wealth of free information for any food business to access if they need help".

There were five closure orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Haperty Limited - Trading at Mind Mega Mela 2025 (Closed activity: the activity associated with the handling, preparation and cooking of raw fish and raw poultry for sale to members of the public) (Takeaway), St Margaret's Road, Finglas Dublin 11;
Spice Village & Indian Kebab House (Takeaway), Ferry Road, Tarbert, Kerry;
Houda Foods (Wholesaler/ Distributor), Unit 5, Ballinlough Business Park, Ballinlough, Roscommon;
Heyba’s Kitchen, Shed A3 Bremore Farm, Flemington Lane, Bremore, Balbriggan, County Dublin;
Stop n Shop Convenience Store, 52-54 Tullow Street, Carlow.

Five closure orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Kerala Royal Caters (Service Sector), Unit 27C, Ashbourne Business Centre, Ballybin Road, Ashbourne, Meath;
Pizza Corner (Take Away), Main Street Caherconlish, Limerick;
Shake Dog (Restaurant/ Café), Unit 23, Showgrounds Shopping Centre, Clonmel, Tipperary;
Thindi (Service Sector), 143 Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7;
Tasty Food (Takeaway), Unit 2, Cross Avenue, Ballyneety, Limerick.

Two prohibition orders were served under the FSAI Act, 1998 on:

Haperty Limited (Trading at Mind Mega Mela 2025) (Takeaway), St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11;
Noor Halal (butcher shop), 10 Church Street, Dundalk, Louth;

Three prohibition orders were served under the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:

Kerala Royal Caters (service sector), Unit 27C, Ashbourne Business Centre, Ballybin Road, Ashbourne, Meath;
Houda Foods (Wholesaler/ Distributor), Unit 5, Ballinlough Business Park, Ballinlough, Roscommon;
Domestic Kitchen at East Road, East Wall, Dublin 3.